Fuss- Free Feast
This season is meant to be merry and bright—as should you! While the holidays do have a way of getting us into a holi-daze, that shouldn't always be the case. Food prepping, for example, should be the least of your worries. Why slave in the kitchen when you can prop your feet up while sitting comfortably on the couch, and let the pros do it instead? Here are some suggestions for assembling your sumptuous yet stress-free spread for Noche Buena. You're welcome!
Cafe Sarree's Caviar Pie
Long before truffles and champagne were considered a luxury, caviar was already a favorite among kings and aristocrats. Have you ever had true caviar? What makes it so exquisite? By definition, it's unfertilized salt-cured fish eggs from specific species of sturgeon. So no, the salmon roe on your sushi does not count. Cafe Sarree's caviar pie will make for a good conversation starter and leave a lasting impression on your party guests. Have all three layers (egg salad, cheese blend and black caviar) in one bite on top of a cracker, toast, or even blinis. That's savory, tangy and briny all in one go! And that's just the appetizer.
Rustan's Supermarket's Cheese and Charcuterie Platter
Your go-to grocery store is not just all about Christmas hampers. It's giving you potluck solutions too! Whoever said cheese platters will burn a hole in your pocket should certainly check out the cheese and charcuterie offerings at Rustan's. Good for 10 to 15 people, the all-cheese tray has Brie, Gruyere and Gouda, among others; the all meat tray includes farmer's ham, parma ham and Beretta milano salami; while the mixed platter has wonderful blocks and ribbons of queso curado, Pepperoni Lyoner, salami picante and Gouda.
Cafe Laguna's Holiday Platters
Happy and hassle-free holidays are made even more possible by this well-loved homegrown brand. An institution when it comes to Filipino cuisine, Cafe Laguna makes it easier for you to enjoy its classic hits right at your own home. Each of its holiday platters can serve 15-20 persons, and 10 to 12 for the kakanin. Lengua estofado, caldereta, kare-kare and bistek Filipino are some of the beef platter options. Then there's the pandan chicken, chicken relleno and chicken pastel. Pata humba is one pork platter option, seafood paella can be a meal in itself, and for dessert, the buko pandan and puto bumbong are guaranteed crowd pleasers.
BBQ Choy's Boodle Bilao
In this day and age, you'd be hard-pressed to find something that's not instant. Even a boodle fight setup can be delivered to you without you ever having to lift a finger--okay maybe only when you have to call and place your order. You even have the option to choose what you want in that playful presentation. They have an all pork bilao with kinuposan, barbecue, crispy pata, and spicy chorizo, and a boodle bilao with all the aforementioned (except the crispy pata) plus skinless longganisa, baked scallops, bam-i, calamares and vegetable lumpia. Both bilaos can easily feed 10 persons. The barbecue is not to be missed, and so is the batchoy (hence the name), so better make that an addon. BBQ Choy also offers a kakanin bilao complete with biko, palitaw, puto and maja blanca, to name a few.
Pasta Bella's Pasta Trays
Trust us when we say that Pasta Bella deserves more recognition for the truly hearty and flavor-packed dishes it serves. Comfort food meant to please the palate and not just your social media followers, its pastas will effortlessly take the spotlight at your dinner party. The spinach and mushroom lasagna and the all-beef lasagna are a must-try. Party pans are great. But if you want the whole nine yards, why not go for its Christmas packages, each good for eight to 10 persons and coming with a salad, pasta, pizza, main dish, drinks and dessert?
Cebu's Ayers Lechon
No Filipino feast is complete without the real showstopper, the lechon. Cebu may be teeming with lechon brands and vendors, but one that stands out is Ayers. Now with over 10 branches around town, plus its recently launched mobile app, Ayers is definitely within your reach. Whether it's for a whole pig or for a whole boneless belly, you may course your order through the app or the website (ayerlechon.com), or by visiting any of its branches— Mango Avenue, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside, Gaisano South, E-Mall, Mactan Alfresco, MCIA Domestic Departure, IT Park and J Centre Mall.
Cafe Selva's Cakes and Pies
Dream cakes are all the rage right now, but if you don't want to be limited to just chocolate—multiple layers and forms be damned—Cafe Selva is worth a ring. Another hidden gem in the city's ever-evolving food scene, this cafe's prized items on its dessert menu are the chocolate banana pie, mango cheesecake and triple chocolate mousse. They are too pretty to eat, but also too good not to. They look indulgent, but at first bite you'll find they're actually not sickeningly sweet but still enough to sate your sweet tooth. Stop saying you're full. You know there's always room for dessert, and the ones from Cafe Selva won't disappoint, we promise.
Yoyi's Pastries and Desserts
This pastry shop was initially known for its torta when it first opened 21 years ago. Now, its standout specialties include cassava cake, revel bars, brownies and butterscotch. You can have an assortment of all four in a box of 12 anytime of the year. But wouldn't Christmas make for the perfect excuse to have a box or more all to yourself ? Great as gifts or an addition to your dessert spread, these treats need to be ordered in advance as Yoyi's is popular for handcrafting tasty yet affordable sweets. Other options include chocolate crinkles, egg tarts, cheese sticks, langka tarts, macaroons and chocolate caramel bars. When it comes to cakes, the scene-stealers here are the classic chocolate and the heavenly mango cakes.